Consecration Of The Marquess Of Ripon Lodge (No. 1489.)

always pervade members of the Craft . They sank their rank , they did not for one moment imagine that one was above another ; they all sought to come to one great end , and that was to carry out a ceremony well and worthily , and to do that which was agreeable to the lodge

they were about to consecrate , and to the brethren with whom they were associated . The W . M . had alluded to Bro . Holden , the Chaplain , who had done them such good service that evening . He ( Bro . Hervey ) had been telling that brother that he thought he was a relative of

his , as his own mother s maiden name was Holden , and the graveyard of Bolton , in Lancashire , was paved with tombstones of the Holden ' s . He did not know that they reall y were related in that way , but he knew they were very much nearer in their relationship than this

at the present time . He had known Bro . Holden in another place , and he could only say that to know him was to respect him . He had given his services that day with great gratification to the brethren , as well as with great advantage to the ceremony of consecrating the lodge . He

( Bro . Hervey ) was always glad to be associated with another brother , whose name he had not yet mentioned ; in connection with the consecration of the lodge , and that was Bro . Cubitt . In conclusion , he would say that , if he had been put to any little trouble in coming among the

brethren , he had been amply repaid for it by their cordiality . The Rev . P . M . Holden said , he believed he had one very great merit as a public speaker , which was being extremel y short in his remarks ; and he thought the W . M . would bear him out

when he said that , that was one reason wh y he was so popular in the pulpit . His sermons were always short , and the longer he lived , the more convinced he was that a long sermon was a great and fatal mistake . The W . M . would also bear him out in saying that if , on

any occasion , when he had heard him he did not succeed in interesting him , at any rate he was not sufficientl y tedious to bore him , and he had not occasion to look at his watch to see when lie was going to leave off . It had been a great pleasure to him

to be present , and to assist at the consecration of this lodge , a ceremony he had never witnessed before . He need hardly say how much impressed he had been by it , it had been very interesting and effective , and he could not but congratulate himself on having been permitted to take a share

in it , more especially as he had found that he had conferred a species of immortality on himself by so doing , because as had been told in lodge that his name as a Consecrating Officer would now be known as that of one of the great lights of Freemasonry along with those of Bros . Hervey

Brett and a vote ol thanks given to him . He was happy to think that on the very first occasion of his attending a consecration he should have the species of immortality conferred on him to which he had previously referred . With regard to his family relations with Bro . Hervey that brother

had said he believed they were not related . Now this was a great mistake because they were brothers , ( cheers ) and as a brother he very much esteemed and respected Bro . Hervey . He would again thank the brethren for the kind way in which they had drunk his health , but he felt he

had done nothing to deserve it . ( No , no . ) The kind mention by the W . M . of his name had filled him with gladness , but he could not help saying that he would have been unworthy of his position if he had not cheerfully come forward to act as Chaplain that day . ( Cheers ) . The W . M . then gave " The Visitors , " to

whom he expressed his thanks for their attendance , and gave them both a hearty welcome , that evening , and a cordial invitation to any meet ings of the lodges when it got to work . Bro . Home ( Prince Leopold Lodge ) returned thanks and wished every success to the Marquess of Ripon Lodge which the members ofthelodge themselves could wish it .

Bro . R . Spooner Hart , W . M . 861 , and Bro . Fawcett likewise responded . The W . M . proposed "The Officers of the Lodge . " Bro . Somers , S . W ., replied ; after which The W . M . then gave " The Charities , " ex-

Consecration Of The Marquess Of Ripon Lodge (No. 1489.)

pressing his regret that Bros . Binckes and Terry were not present . He , however , was g lad to sec Bro . Little at the table , who was well-known , not only as a great working Mason , but as a most energetic upholder of the Charities . The only time he

( the W . M . ) was Steward for one of the Charities , it was for the Girls' School , of which Bro . Little was Secretary . He hoped that the Marquess of Ripon Lodge would always send a Steward to one or other of the Institutions ' festivals ; and he hoped to make himself a life

governor of every one ot the Masonic Chanties . Bro . Little , in reply said , he felt intensely gratified at the way his name had been coupled with this toast . He had the honour to be Secretary to the oldest Masonic Institution which had

commended itself to their forefathers , and was commending itself to the present generation . Sinking himself in that Institution , they would allow him to congratulate himself on flavins' assisted at the consecration of the

Marquess of Ripon Lodge . Though a young Freemason he had endeavoured to do his duty to the Craft and to his brethren . It had been the utmost satisfaction and gratification to him to meet them on such occasions as this to greet them as being the precursors of still greater

success than hitherto in Masonry , With respect to the Charities he need not say that they were very successful , and they were more estimated and appreciated every day . He believed they would be still more so the better they were known . It was not for him to commend those

institutions , because they were known to all the brethren present , but he must say they are alleviating distress and soothing the pillows of the aged and infirm as well as providing entirely for multitudes of the young . As long as he had the honour to be the

Secretary of the Girls' School he should endeavour to perform his duties to the satisfacrion of the Craft and all who were connected with it . They had a worthy representative of the Benevolent Institution present ( Bro . Jones ,

Secretary ) , and he was happy to say that all the institutions were working well together . He hoped it would go forth through the length and breadth of the land , and there was no rivalry between them . He and the other Secretaries were

all one in spirit , and would continue to discharge their duty . The more they did so the better they themselves would be satisfied , and they felt they could reap their reward hereafter . The brethren then separated .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do iidt hold mir . c ) ves rcsponMbk' for , or even as apprnvin . f ; of , tlic opinions expressed )> y our earresjioixlents , but we wisli , in a spirit of fail" play to all , to permit—williin certain necessary limits—free discussion . — liu . J

THE MELROSE LODGE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother ,

So " Masonicus" has been waiting to see how many letters of "the same style" he could despatch with a single shot , and though he has had ample time to study the subject of

discussion between us , he either cannot or dare not level his fowling piece to ruffle a single feather of the single solitary bird that has dared to cross his path . " Masonicus" says that my letters at page 234 " are sufficiently answered already at page 206 . "

I ask " Masonicus" how it could have been possible for him to have answered one of my letters before it was written . I would caution " Masonicus" to be careful how he makes reckless assertions that may lead him into a net , from whose meshes he might find it difficult to extricate himself .

It is unfair in " Masonicus" to persist in misrepresenting me by trying to drag me in , against my inclination , among those who are upholding the priority of Melrose over Kilwinning .

Practical Masonry is a more important question with me than the mere age of any particular lodge , anc ' i 1 challenge " Masonicus" to point out to me a single word , in any of his letters , that he can construe into an answer to either of mine .

Original Correspondence.

If " Masonicus" is not able to masticate the small ' ' bone" which 1 have given him at page 2 , 34 , without the aid of another to nssist him , let him retire in favour of a champion with sounder teeth and less presumption , and instead of

indulging in slang ridiculisms I would advise him to study a little logic as a preventive of wandering too far into the labyrinth of entangling " coat tails and petticoats" of " illegitimate children . " I am , yours fraternally , FRATERN \ L JUSTICE .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I am much surprised in not finding a report in your paner of the meeting and election

of candidates forthe Mate and remate Annuitants at the May election , which I consider one of great importance to Masons and subscribers of your paper .

Yours fraternally , A SuiiSCRIBER . [ Our correspondent will see the report to which he alludes in another column . —EDITOR ]

TEMPLARISM AND RED CROSSISM IN EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW . ( To the Editor of the . Freemason . ) Dear Sir and Brother , — Under the above heading , " Enquirer " asks certain questions , which , if his previous enquiries had been of a stricter nature , I think

he might have saved himself ( he trouble of doing . As he has mentioned my name , I beg to inform him that I have too great a respect for my Masonic O . B ., to " wilfully act in opposition to

the Constitution " of any Order to which I may have the honour to belong . I fear , when he made his former enquiries , his informant must have been practising on his credulity . Possibly , some Knight Templar , whose zeal may have

outrun his discretion , may have become a little jealous of the rapid spread of the Red Cross Order , in Edinburgh ; but that the officials of the Order threaten their members with all sorts of pains and penalties if they join , and even

refuse to receive a Red Cross man into their Order , unless he will forswear his R . C . connection , is a statement to which I cannot give credance till it is supported by proof substantial

by the writer ' s own signature . The two Orders are not naturally antagonistic , and need not be rivals ; true they are both Christian Orders of Chivalry , but there is no difficulty in a I'Veemason preserving his allegiance to both , Yours Fraternally , G . W . WHEELER .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In reply to " Enquirer" in your issue of Saturday last , I beg to inform him that the Knights Templar of Edinburgh do not refuse to

admit members of the Red Cross Order of Constantine into their Order or require them to forswear their R . C . connection . There are several Sir Knights who maintain active relations in both Orders in Edinburgh . I am , yours fraternally , K . T . and K . R . C . C .

HOI . I . OWAY ' S OlNTMKST ANpI ' lLI . S . SORES , WOUNDS , ANIJ ULCEUS .. —Every variety ot sore , ulcer , eruption , boil , and carbuncle is safe !) stopped in its destructive course by the timely application of this healing Ointment . It arrests unhealthy , and substitutes healthy action ; thus curing inflamed , irritable , and spreading- diseases affecting the skin . Holloway ' s Ointment has trained an imperishable

fame for its faculty in healing old inflammatory sores about the shins and ankles , and [ or had legs and old wounds it cannot be equalled ; nor is it less efficacious in gathered breasts and abscesses . When the complaint has been of long continuance , Holloway ' s Pills will expedite recovery if taken in those doses which act as alteratives on the stomach and tonics on the constitution , — ADVT .